Sky Magazine – After The Watershed

Magazine Source: Sky

Timeframe: 2000

After the Watershed
by Damon Syson, Sky

“We’re not going to flash our bits but it’s nice to be seen as women”

It may come as a shock to learn that Claire Richards, the Middlesex girl with the cute dimples, come-to-bed eyes and winning smile, has nine GCSE’s and three A-Levels. The most reserved of the Steps ladies, she’s the kind of girl who got on with her work at school and surprised everyone come exam time.

“I’m far from thick,” she says. “Being blonde and in Steps, you get this stamp saying ‘Div’. That’s probably why we’ve done well. It’s quite good to let people think you’re a bit thick sometimes.” Claire’s no softie, either. Not that she’d ever slag anyone off. Well except Saturday morning ‘comedy’ duo Supergirly. “We’ve done loads of embarrassing things, but the only thing we’ve refused to do is a sketch with them on Live and Kicking last year. They’d slagged us off so many times. And they’re crap anyway.”

Apart from Supergirly, Claire’s wrath is currently directed at the spy who’s been selling stories to the tabloids from inside the Steps camp. There was one claiming she’d invited 250 celebs to her birthday party and only 60 people had turned up, none of them famous. “It was complete crap,” spits Claire. “And written in a really nasty way. We’ve definitely got a snitch. I’d love to know who it is.”

Claire admits that Steps are going through Take That like growing pains: “As time goes on, you do start wanting to be a bit more normal…If that’s the right word. You want more freedom.” “But the music is changing slightly,” she adds, “it’s not as cheesy, but it’s still Steps. And we’re not wearing matching coloured outfits anymore.”

Apart from starting a ‘proper’ relationship (“He’s not famous, but he’s in the industry”), the biggest event in Claire’s life lately has been buying a house. “It’s real creaky,” she says. “At first I was convinced someone was trying to get in the front door. I kept a carving knife under the bed.”

“That’ll sound good,” interjects a passing Lisa. “Claire Steps sleeps with carving knife under the bed.”

Claire admits she’s less comfortable with being “sexy” than her fellow Steppers. But she’s getting used to it. “I’ve become a bit braver. I’m not saying we’re going to go out and flash our bits to everybody, but it is nice to be seen as women. After all,” she adds tellingly, “everyone has to grow up in the end.”

Read more classic STEPS interviews in our Interviews & Reports section here.